Bed sheet with tensioning weight

ABSTRACT

A bottom bed sheet assembly for a mattress that includes a primary textile panel and a rigid weight bar. The primary textile panel includes a main portion adapted to be placed over a top surface of the mattress. A foot end flap adapted to be draped beside a foot end of the mattress. A right-side flap and left-side flap are adapted to be draped beside right and left sides of the mattress. A head end flap adapted to be draped beside a head end of the mattress. The head end flap includes a pocket extending transversely across the head end flap at a lower end of the head end flap. The rigid weight bar is assembled into the pocket to apply tension to the primary textile panel in response to gravity acting on the rigid weight bar.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/960,483 filed Jan. 13, 2020, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to a bottom bed sheet that is adapted to be attached to a mattress.

BACKGROUND

Changing bed linens is a chore that is done in most households, hospitals, hotels, and the like on a regular or semi-regular basis. Sheets are changed for a variety of reasons including cleanliness and to give a sense of order or beauty to a bedroom. In fact, this very important chore is so difficult that many people find it impossible to do without help from others. The application, removal, laundry and folding for storage complicate the process even further.

One approach to securing a bottom sheet is the common fitted sheet invented by Bertha Berman in 1957 (U.S. Pat. No. 2,907,055). The elasticized corners hold the opposite sides of the sheet in place. Although this is a very effective method of temporarily securing the sheet to a mattress it is physically demanding because it requires lifting the mattress at the corners.

People with physical or perceptual disabilities may have difficulty determining whether the sheet is upside down, which side is the head or the side of the sheet, whether the sheet is the proper size for a mattress based upon tactile or visual cues. The common fitted sheet does not utilize any such cues making application of the sheet difficult for this population. Additional problems with the common elasticized fitted sheet include:

Difficulty lifting the mattress to insert the sheet corners, particularly the final corner, to securely attach the sheet to the mattress;

Difficulty recognizing if the sheets size is correct for the mattress size;

Difficulty physically reaching all sides of the mattress, particularly if the mattress is placed against one or more walls;

Difficulty removing the sheet from the bed;

Difficulty folding the sheets neatly for storage;

Difficulty determining the head/foot of the sheet from the sides; and

Difficulty determining the underside of the sheet from the top side of the sheet.

This disclosure is directed to solving the above problems and other problems as summarized below.

SUMMARY

It would be desirable to construct a bottom bed sheet that eliminates the usual frustrations of changing bed linens. A bed sheet would be desirable that is easily secured and removed from the mattress. It would also be desirable to provide a bed sheet that can be applied while standing on one side of the mattress instead of the usual back-and-forth, circling the bed that is currently required with elasticized fitted sheets. A bed sheet that can be applied without lifting the mattress is also desirable. A bed sheet would also be desirable that does not include zippers, Velcro or ties. A bed sheet is also desired that visually and tactilely identifies the head/foot of the sheet from the side, the underside from the topside, and the size of the sheet. A bed sheet is also desired that incorporates a mattress protector into the bottom sheet. Another desirable feature of the bed sheet would be to incorporate pockets so that items that need to be easily within reach of the sleeper such as eyeglasses, hearing aids, medications, cell phones, and other electronic devices are readily accessible.

According to one aspect of this disclosure, a bottom bed sheet assembly is disclosed for a mattress. The assembly includes a primary textile panel and a rigid weight bar. The primary textile panel includes a main portion adapted to be placed over a top surface of the mattress, a foot end flap adapted to be draped beside a foot end of the mattress, right and left-side flaps adapted to be draped beside right and left-sides of the mattress, and a head end flap adapted to be draped beside a head end of the mattress. The head end flap has a pocket extending transversely across the head end flap at a lower end of the head end flap. The rigid weight bar is assembled into the pocket to apply tension to the primary textile panel in response to gravity acting on the rigid weight bar.

According to other aspects of this disclosure, the pocket may include at least one opening adjacent one of the sides of the mattress for inserting and removing the rigid weight bar from the pocket.

Another aspect of this disclosure relates to an extension panel sewn to an upper portion of the head end flap with the pocket being provided in the extension panel. The extension panel may be formed of a fabric having a lower coefficient of friction than a coefficient of friction of the primary textile panel to facilitate inserting and removing the rigid weight bar from the pocket. The extension panel may have an overlapped portion that extends to a limited extent under the main portion and is sewn to the main portion.

Another aspect of this disclosure relates to a mattress cover attached to a lower surface of the main portion of the primary textile panel for protecting the mattress. The mattress cover may have a higher coefficient of friction than a coefficient of friction of the primary textile panel for reducing slippage between the mattress cover and the mattress.

The rigid weight bar may be an elongated planar blade having an upper edge, a lower edge, an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface and the outer surface are wider than the upper edge and the lower edge. A textile sleeve may be provided that receives the rigid weight bar. The textile sleeve and weight bar may be inserted together into the pocket through an opening on one end of the pocket. The textile sleeve and weight bar may be removed from the pocket through the opening in the pocket to launder the primary textile panel. The rigid weight bar may be a steel bar having a corrosion resistant coating, an aluminum bar, a zinc bar, a polymeric bar, or another material having sufficient weight to pull the head end flap or extension panel downwardly in normal use.

According to other aspects of this disclosure the foot end flap may be sewn to the right-side flap at a foot end right corner of the mattress. The foot end flap may be sewn to the left-side flap at a foot end left corner of the mattress. The head end flap may be sewn to the right-side flap at a head end right corner of the mattress. The foot end flap may be sewn to the left-side flap at a head end left corner of the mattress. The foot end flap, the head end flap, the right-side flap and the left-side flap may each include an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portions of the right-side flap, the head end flap, and foot end flap may be sewn together, and the upper portions of the left-side flap, head end flap, and foot end flap may be sewn together. The lower portions may be selectively tucked under the mattress or allowed to hang below the upper portions and below the mattress as a skirt.

The above aspects of this disclosure and other aspects will be described below with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a bed, headboard, and the bottom bed sheet made in accordance with this disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a cross-section view taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the bed sheet shown in FIG. 1 before being sewn and showing a weight bar in position to be inserted into a pocket formed on the bed end flap panel.

FIG. 4 is a magnified view of the area shown in the circle 4 in FIG. 3 after the upper portions of a side panel and the end panel are sewn together.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary diagrammatic cross-section view of the bed through the head end and foot end of the bed showing the weight bar tensioning the sheet as a result of gravity acting upon the weight bar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The illustrated embodiments are disclosed with reference to the drawings. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are intended to be merely examples that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. The specific structural and functional details disclosed are not to be interpreted as limiting, but as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to practice the disclosed concepts.

Referring to FIG. 1, a bed 10 is shown to include a mattress 12 and a box spring 14. The mattress 12 is covered by a bed sheet assembly 16. The bed sheet assembly 16 includes a primary textile panel 18, a weight bar 20, and an extension panel 22. It should be understood that the extension panel 22 may be sewn to the primary textile 18 panel or may be formed as a head end flap 25 (shown in FIGS. 3 and 5) that is part of the primary textile panel 18.

The primary textile panel 18 includes a head end 24 and a head end flap 25 (shown in FIGS. 3 and 5) that is draped over the mattress 12 at the head end 24. A main portion 26, or mattress top cover, is placed over the top surface 28 of the mattress 12. A foot end flap 30 is draped over the mattress 12 at a foot end of the mattress 12. A right-side flap 34 and a left-side flap 36 are draped over the right side 38 and left side 40 of the mattress 12, respectively.

A pocket 42 is formed at a lower end of the extension panel 22. The pocket 42 defines an access opening 46 that is provided to permit the weight bar 20 to be inserted into the pocket 42 and removed from the pocket 42. The weight bar 20 may be provided with a polymeric rod that is bonded to the weight bar 20 to facilitate insertion and removal of the weight bar 20. Other options relating to the weight bar 20 may include tying ribbon pulls to the ends of the weight bar 20 or covering the weight bar 20 with a textile sleeve for esthetic purposes. It should be understood that the pocket can be provided as part of the extension panel 22, or alternatively, the pocket 42 could be formed on the head end flap 25

The extension panel 22 as illustrated is adapted to be sewn to a bottom surface of the main portion 26 of the primary textile panel 18. The extension panel 22 includes an overlapped portion 48 that reinforces the head end 24 of the main portion 26. The overlapped portion 48 also provides additional surface area for sewing the extension panel 22 to the primary textile panel 18. The extension panel 22 may be made of a polyester blend material, or other low friction material, and the primary textile panel may be made of cotton having a higher coefficient of friction than the extension panel 22. The use of a material having a lower coefficient of friction facilitates insertion and removal of the weight bar 20 relative to the pocket 42.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a mattress protector 50 may be sewn to the primary textile panel 18 to cover the main portion 26 of the primary textile panel 18. By attaching the mattress protector 50 to the bottom surface of the main portion 26, the use of a separate mattress cover may be eliminated thereby reducing the effort required to make the bed. The mattress protector 50 may have a higher coefficient of friction than the bottom surface of the main portion 26 to reduce any tendency of the primary textile panel 18 to slip or slide relative to the top surface 28 of the mattress 12. The mattress protector 50 is optional and, if not provided, the primary textile panel may be placed directly on top of the mattress 12.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the primary textile panel 18 is illustrated prior to forming a foot end pocket. The bottom pocket is formed by sewing the foot end flap upper portion 52 to the right-side flap upper portion 54 and the left-side flap upper portion 56. The head end flap 25 is sewn to the right-side flap upper portion 54 and the left-side flap upper portion 56 to form a head end pocket. The head end pocket and foot end pocket function to assist in holding the bed sheet assembly 16 on the mattress 12. The head end pocket is optional and, if not provided, the process of making the bed can be simplified with the weight bar 20 in the pocket 42 performing the function of securing the head end 24 in place.

A foot end flap lower portion 58 hangs below the foot end flap upper portion 52. The foot end flap lower portion 52 may be provided with textile strips (eg. textured ribbons) sewn on the underside of the foot end flap lower portion 52. A right-side flap lower portion 60 hangs below the right-side flap upper portion 54. A left-side flap lower portion 62 hangs below the left-side flap upper portion 56. The lower portions 58, 60, and 62 may be allowed to hang downwardly form the upper portions 52, 54, and 56 to function as a bed skirt extending partially around the box spring 14. In this mode, there is no need to lift the mattress 12 when making the bed 10. Alternatively, the lower portions 58, 60, and 62 may be tucked between the mattress 12 and box spring 14 if the person making the bed is able to tuck the lower portions between the mattress 12 and box spring 14. Tucking the lower portions 58, 60, and 62 further stabilizes the bed sheet assembly 16 on the mattress 12.

Referring to FIG. 4, one corner of the bed sheet assembly 16 is shown with the foot end flap upper portion 52 sewn to the left-side flap upper portion 56 to partially form a foot end pocket 64 by one or more lines of corner seam stitching 66. The foot end pocket is completed by sewing the right-side flap upper portion 54 to the foot end flap upper portion 52.

Referring to FIG. 5, the head end 24 and foot end 32 of the bed 10, mattress 12 and box spring are shown with the intermediate portions thereof not being shown to more clearly illustrate the forces applied by the weight bar 20. The weight bar 20 disposed in the pocket 42 is pulled downwardly by gravity as indicated by the arrows on the left side of FIG. 5. The pocket 42 as shown may be formed in the extension panel 22 (shown in FIG. 1) but could, alternatively, be formed in the head end flap 25 (shown in FIGS. 3 and 5). As shown in FIG. 1, the head end flap 25 includes the overlapped portion 48 that extends under the main portion 26 of the primary textile panel 18. The force applied by the weight bar 20 by gravity is represented by three arrows on the left side of FIG. 5. The force also acts on the main portion 26 pulling the top portion 26 toward the head end 24 as indicted by the arrow above the mattress 12. The larger arrow on the right side of FIG. 5 illustrates the foot end pocket 64 being urged against the foot end 32 of the mattress 12.

The rigid weight bar 20 may be an elongated planar blade having an upper edge, a lower edge, an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface and the outer surface are wider than the upper edge and the lower edge. The rigid weight bar 20 may be a steel bar having a galvanized or other type of corrosion resistant coating. Alternatively, the weight bar may be made of a different metal, a polymer or other material having sufficient mass to apply tension to tighten and stabilize the primary textile panel 18.

A textile sleeve may be provided that receives the rigid weight bar 20. The textile sleeve and weight bar 20 may be inserted together into the pocket 42 through an opening on one end of the pocket. The access openings 46 of the pocket 42 may be indicated by sewing a contrasting color fabric strip or by otherwise marking the access opening 46. The textile sleeve and weight bar may be removed from the pocket through the opening 46 in the pocket 42 to launder the primary textile panel 18.

Referring back to FIG. 1, a storage pocket 68 is shown that is provided for storing items such as eyeglasses, hearing aids, medications, cell phones, and other electronic devices are readily accessible to a person lying on the bed 10.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, the top of the primary textile panel 18 may be marked with a visual or tactilely perceptible designation 70. The designation 70 may be used to indicate the size of the bed or to indicate the orientation of the sheet on the bed 10. As shown, the designation 70 is embroidered onto the main portion 26, or top, of the primary textile panel 18 at the foot end 32 of the mattress 12 so that a person making the bed with reduced visual acuity would be able to feel the designation and align the bed sheet assembly 16 on the foot end 32. The designation may be referred to for determining which side of the sheet is facing in an upward direction.

The embodiments described above are specific examples that do not describe all possible forms of the disclosure. The features of the illustrated embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the disclosed concepts. The words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation. The scope of the following claims is broader than the specifically disclosed embodiments and includes modifications of the illustrated embodiments. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A bottom bed sheet assembly for a mattress comprising: a primary textile panel including a main portion adapted to be placed over a top surface of the mattress, a foot end flap adapted to be draped beside a foot end of the mattress, right-side and left-side flap adapted to be draped beside right and left sides of the mattress, and a head end flap adapted to be draped beside a head end of the mattress, the head end flap having a pocket extending transversely across the head end flap at a lower end thereof; and a rigid weight bar assembled into the pocket applying tension to the primary textile panel in response to gravity acting on the rigid weight bar.
 2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the pocket includes at least one opening adjacent one of the sides of the mattress for inserting and removing the rigid weight bar from the pocket.
 3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the head end flap includes an extension panel sewn to an upper portion of the head end flap, and wherein the pocket is provided in the extension panel.
 4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the extension panel is formed of a fabric having a lower coefficient of friction than a coefficient of friction of the primary textile panel to facilitate inserting and removing the rigid weight bar from the pocket.
 5. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the extension panel has a reinforcement portion that extends to a limited extent under the main portion and is sewn to the main portion.
 6. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising: a mattress cover attached to a lower surface of the main portion of the primary textile panel for protecting the mattress.
 7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the mattress cover has a higher coefficient of friction than a coefficient of friction of the primary textile panel for reducing slippage between the mattress cover and the mattress.
 8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the rigid weight bar is an elongated planar blade having an upper edge, a lower edge, an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface and the outer surface are wider than the upper edge and the lower edge.
 9. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising: a textile sleeve that receives the rigid weight bar, wherein the textile sleeve and weight bar are inserted into the pocket through an opening on one end of the pocket, and the textile sleeve and weight bar are removed from the pocket through the opening to launder the primary textile panel.
 10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the rigid weight bar is a steel bar having a corrosion resistant coating.
 11. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the foot end flap is sewn to the right-side flap at a foot end right corner of the mattress, and wherein the foot end flap is sewn to the left-side flap at a foot end left corner of the mattress.
 12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the head end flap is sewn to the right-side flap at a head end right corner of the mattress, and wherein the foot end flap is sewn to the left-side flap at a head end left corner of the mattress.
 13. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the foot end flap, the right-side flap and the left-side flap each include an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein only the upper portions of the right-side flap and foot end flap are sewn together and wherein only the upper portions of the left-side flap and foot end flap are sewn together.
 14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the lower portions are adapted to be selectively tucked under the mattress.
 15. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the lower portions are adapted to selectively hang below the upper portions below the mattress.
 16. A bottom bed sheet assembly for a mattress comprising: a primary textile panel including a main portion adapted to be placed over a top surface of the mattress, a foot end flap adapted to be draped beside a foot end of the mattress, right and left-side flaps adapted to be draped beside right and left sides of the mattress, wherein the foot end flap is sewn to the right-side flap at a foot end right corner of the mattress, and wherein the foot end flap is sewn to the left-side flap at a foot end left corner of the mattress, and a head end flap adapted to be draped beside a head end of the mattress, the head end flap having a pocket extending transversely across the head end flap at a lower end thereof, wherein the head end flap includes an extension panel sewn to an upper portion of the head end flap, and wherein the pocket is provided in the extension panel; and a rigid weight bar assembled into the pocket applying tension to the primary textile panel in response to gravity acting on the rigid weight bar.
 17. The assembly of claim 16 wherein the head end flap is sewn to the right-side flap at a head end right corner of the mattress, and wherein the foot end flap is sewn to the left-side flap at a head end left corner of the mattress.
 18. The assembly of claim 16 wherein the foot end flap, the right-side flap and the left-side flap each include an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein only the upper portions of the right-side flap and foot end flap are sewn together and wherein only the upper portions of the left-side flap and foot end flap are sewn together.
 19. The assembly of claim 16 further comprising: a textile sleeve that receives the rigid weight bar, wherein the sleeve and weight bar are inserted into the pocket through an opening on one end of the pocket, and the textile sleeve and weight bar are removed from the pocket through the opening to launder the primary textile and the extension panel.
 20. A bottom bed sheet assembly for a mattress comprising: a primary textile panel including a main portion adapted to be placed over a top surface of the mattress, a foot end flap adapted to be draped beside a foot end of the mattress, right and left-side flaps adapted to be draped beside right and left sides of the mattress, wherein the foot end flap is sewn to the right-side flap at a foot end right corner of the mattress, and wherein the foot end flap is sewn to the left-side flap at a foot end left corner of the mattress, and a head end flap adapted to be draped beside a head end of the mattress, the head end flap having a pocket extending transversely across the head end flap at a lower end thereof, wherein the head end flap includes an extension panel sewn to an upper portion of the head end flap, and wherein the pocket is provided in the extension panel, and a mattress cover attached to a lower surface of the main portion of the primary textile panel for protecting the mattress, wherein the mattress cover has a higher coefficient of friction than the primary textile panel for reducing slippage between the mattress cover and the mattress; a rigid weight bar assembled into the pocket applying tension to the textile panel in response to gravity acting on the rigid weight bar, wherein the rigid weight bar is an elongated planar blade having an upper edge, a lower edge, an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface and the outer surface are wider than the upper edge and the lower edge; and a textile sleeve that receives the rigid weight bar, wherein the textile sleeve and weight bar are inserted into the pocket through an opening on one end of the pocket, and the sleeve and weight bar are removed from the pocket through the opening to launder the primary textile. 